The Houston Chronicle did a terrible job discussing the appraisal cap issue which came up on the Texas Senate floor yesterday:
Cities and counties would be the hardest hit by a lower appraisal cap because it would hamper their ability to raise revenues to pay for local services.
This is absolutely false. Revenue can go up automatically by 10% a year under the current system. That’s a 10% tax increase every year. Wouldn’t you like a 10% raise every year? I know I would.
Revenue wouldn’t be cut one bit; raises would be limited to 3% a year instead of 10%. If cities and counties need additional revenue, then they can change the tax rate instead and raise taxes. Cities and counties don’t like this method because then the citizens would see that their elected representatives are raising taxes. The cities and counties like this hidden, behind the scenes sneaky tax increase instead.
Palo Pinto County Judge Mickey West, president of the Texas Association of Counties, said reducing the appraisal cap would force local governments to tap into their cash reserves to make up for lost revenues. He said that would cause bond ratings to be downgraded, costing taxpayers more money in the long run.
Ha. There’s a lifetime government official for you. Let me rephrase what he said: “We raise taxes every year and the citizens haven’t caught on yet. We’re going to get the money out of the taxpayers, anyway, so just let us continue to be sneaky about it.
Ron Cox, city manager of Friendswood, said a 5 percent appraisal cap would cost the city $640,000 a year in lost revenue. “That represents our street maintenance budget,” Cox said.
I’d be furious if I lived in friendswood and the city manager, paid by my tax dollars, was campaigning against me. This $640,000 figure is bogus – remember, lowering the appraisal cap does not cost Friendswood one thin dime. It just means that instead of getting a $640,000 raise next year off of the taxpayers back, they’ll only get a $192,000 raise. It’s still a raise!
This Texas Municipal League irks me. They ought to be illegal. They’re paid for by my tax dollars to campaign for raising my taxes
Chasing the Wind 
Leave a comment